MUMBAI: India’s Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to strengthen the collaboration between the two countries within the Telecommunications and Information and Communications technology (ICT) space.
TRAI secretary Sudhir Gupta and TRA director general H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori signed the MoU.
The MoU pledges both countries’ commitment to promoting closer co-operation and knowledge exchange pertaining to various aspects of international and regional ICT.
The two telecom regulators will cooperate in the areas of technological developments and new technologies; universal services, Mobile Number Portability (MNP), spectrum issues, green telecoms, e-government and e-services, participation in international events and forums, amongst other issues.
The MoU was inked earlier this month during the joint commission meetings that both countries held in India, in the presence of UAE foreign minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of State H.E. Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashimi.
Al Mansoori said, “This agreement falls within the framework of bilateral cooperation between UAE and India, and aims to secure optimum utilisation of the telecommunication sector to best serve the development efforts, economy, and knowledge society, which will reflect positively on the competitiveness of both countries. The importance of the telecommunications sector is reflected through the strategic role it plays in our contemporary society, as it contributes significantly in the economic and social development. We regard taking advantage of the global expertise and strengthening the ties with international stakeholders as necessities for the growth and prosperity of this sector.”
TRA believes that the telecommunications sector is a strategic catalyst that will accelerate the UAE’s competitiveness. Moreover, TRA is always keen to exchange knowledge and experience within the ICT field and implement best practices that contribute positively to developing a knowledge–based economy.
Additionally, Al Mansoori and TRA senior manager international affairs Nasser Bin Hammad met with Indian Minister of Road and Transport Ravi Shankar Prasad to exchange point of views regarding many significant topics such as UN post-2015 sustainable development agenda that will be validated by the General Assembly during this month.
Moreover, meeting attendees exchanged thoughts about the challenges facing the telecommunications sector including broadband services, cyber security, and the promotion of investing in telecommunications and ICT companies. Both parties agreed that discussing such topics further is crucial during bilateral meetings on the sidelines of international forums.
